Na'er's Change of Heart

That evening, in Su Jiu's room.

"Hey! Old Su, Old Su, are you there?"

Su Jiu had only just finished sharing intelligence regarding the Holy Spirit Cult with Leng Yaozhu and returned not long ago when Na'er arrived right on cue. It seemed this little girl was quite impatient to throw herself at him.

Time for Director Su to put on a show.

"Na'er, what's wrong? Missed your brother?"

Na'er's face darkened the moment she heard that, and she immediately delivered a headbutt to Su Jiu. Couldn't he see she had something serious to discuss? All he knew how to do was tease her.

Su Jiu chuckled; the little one had quite a bit of strength.

"Decided so soon? Then I must remind you, Na'er, there is only this one chance!"

"I've decided. We're going to the most famous haunted house in Shrek City, right here. Na'er will not accept any rebuttals!"

"Oh? Really?"

Director Su put on a troubled expression, but in Na'er's eyes, it was a sign that he was chickening out. She felt secretly smug; it seemed Old Su was truly afraid of this!

"That's right, this one, Bu'er House! Don't dawdle, Old Su, let's go!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a triumphant smile—as if she were already popping champagne—bloomed on Na'er's face. Without further ado, she grabbed Su Jiu, kicked her short legs, and excitedly sprinted toward the main gate of the Leng Family estate.

Although Na'er had never been to a haunted house, she had heard from A-Jiu that they were terrifying!

Today, King Na'er would risk her life to accompany (and trap) Old Su. Hmph, I'm going all in!

Shrek City, Sea God Street, haunted house.

"Na'er, a-are we really going in here?"

Su Jiu deliberately added a noticeable tremor to his voice, which Na'er captured keenly.

The haunted house did look gloomy and frightening, but seeing Old Su's cowardly appearance, an unknown surge of courage suddenly welled up in Na'er's heart.

It was just a haunted house; nothing to be afraid of.

She took a step forward, raised her hand, and gave Su Jiu's backside a sharp slap, a brazen, bratty smirk—the kind that begged for discipline—unmasked on her face.

"Aiyoyoyo~, is little fish Old Su scared? It's okay, it's okay, King Na'er understands. I didn't expect someone as big as Old Su to still be afraid of this, tsk tsk tsk~"

Suddenly, Na'er felt her hand being held. She looked up and saw it was the little fish, Old Su.

"Little fish Old Su, you don't have to rush to hide it. If you're scared, we won't go. Na'er understands..."

Su Jiu ignored her, instead mocking her in his heart.

Little fish Na'er, don't go crying from fright later.

The house was excessively quiet, so quiet that one could almost hear Na'er's anxious heartbeat.

The corridor was long, narrow, and dim. Blurred, ancient portraits hung on the walls, and the eyes of the figures seemed alive; no matter where one walked, it felt like being leered at.

Thick cobwebs clung to the corners, and dust-covered old furniture was piled in the shadows, which layered over one another, making it feel as if something were hiding in the dark.

A cold wind blew past from time to time, carrying a wail, and the curtains fluttered soundlessly...

"O-Old Su, if you're scared, just hold Na'er's hand tightly. Na'er will protect you..."

"AH!!!"

Su Jiu let out a sudden, loud shout, and the courage Na'er had just mustered vanished instantly like a tree falling and the monkeys scattering.

Her hair stood on end, she instantly activated her Spine-Back Dragon form, wrapped her arms tightly around Su Jiu's thigh, and trembled uncontrollably, not even daring to look up to see what had happened in front of them.

"Phew! Phew!"

"Thank goodness it was just a ball of paper, that scared me to death~"

Su Jiu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a practiced air, his tone filled with the relief of someone who had narrowly escaped death.

Na'er, however, completely exploded. She rushed to his front in a few steps and pounded her small fists against his stomach.

In the darkness, two teardrops hung from the corners of her eyes, shimmering with an exceptionally conspicuous light.

"Old Su!!!"

"How can you be so mean! That's too much!"

"Na-Na'er, y-you, look behind you, there's something dirty!"

Su Jiu gave a performance worthy of his true colors, his voice trembling even more as he blocked Na'er's small frame with his own, shrinking behind her while shivering all over.

"Na'er, you said you would protect me, you have to keep your word!"

"Ah?"

The next moment, Na'er was forced to come face-to-face with the small white ghost played by Su Jiu's Needle-Bee Sentry clone.

The little ghost suddenly lunged forward, let out a sharp roar at her, and clawed the air, as if it were about to pounce and bite her the next second.

"Sss-ha--!"

"AH!!!"

=͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪‧̣̥̇)

Na'er was stunned at first, her pupils instinctively shrinking into vertical slits. Extreme panic seized her in an instant, and she couldn't help but let out a shrill scream.

Her innate biological survival instinct drove her to try and escape this place at all costs, but Su Jiu behind her held her firmly in place, leaving her unable to move an inch.

With nowhere to run, she became so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes instantly, and she burst into loud sobs.

She was crying from anxiety! (*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)

Su Jiu behind her was already grinning from ear to ear; to educate a bratty little female fish, one must prescribe the right medicine!

Hehehe~

At the same time, the Needle-Bee Sentry clone hidden in the shadows recorded this entire scene.

Suddenly, Na'er felt the restraints behind her vanish. Panicked and flustered, she dove into Su Jiu's arms with lightning speed, greedily soaking up the sense of security she had been craving.

It was as if only here could she fully release her weakness and vulnerability.

"Wuu... wuu wuu..."

The Little Silver Dragon cried until her face was a mess of tears, large droplets instantly soaking Su Jiu's lapels. Feeling the small figure trembling in his arms, Su Jiu finally realized he might have gone too far, and the grin on his face was replaced by a trace of heartache.

He didn't say any words of comfort, simply squatting down quietly and holding her.

Women are made of water; this saying was proven true by Na'er. After crying for nearly half an hour, her sobbing finally began to subside.

"O-Old Su, can we go home? It's pitch black here, and Na'er is scared..."

"Alright, since Na'er asked, I, Su, must agree. However..."

"However what?"

"Little crybaby, you've been crying for so long, are you hungry?"

"Gurgle~"

A sound of protest from a small stomach suddenly echoed through the dark, silent haunted house. Shy, Na'er buried her head back into Su Jiu's chest.

"O-Okay, Old Su, let's go eat. Your treat..."

"Still thinking about draining my gold? But I'm happy to let you drain it."

"Hehehe~"

On the brightly lit Sea God Street, the hustle and bustle of human life completely buried the previous unpleasantness deep in their hearts.

A smile appeared on Na'er's face once more, still innocent, bright, and flawless, carrying all the beauty in the world.

"Old Su! Thank you!"

"Haha, no need for thanks. How about you offer yourself to me instead?"

"..."

"It's okay if you don't answer. I will wait, I'll wait until you can promise me yourself, without a single shred of hesitation."

Na'er still didn't speak, only tightening her arms around Su Jiu's neck a little more.

"Old Su, thank you..."

That night.

"What, too scared to sleep alone? And you want me to sleep on the floor?"

"Na'er, do you even hear yourself?"

Having already occupied Su Jiu's bed, Na'er guarded the edge of the mattress fiercely. If Su Jiu moved even an inch closer, she looked ready to hiss at him, her two little fangs sharpened and aimed at Old Su.

"I really can't handle you. Then..."

"Ah!!!"

"You brought this on yourself."

Su Jiu pulled Na'er, quilt and all, into his arms like a body pillow, locking her in place. No matter how much she squirmed, she couldn't break free.

Na'er: Crap, I miscalculated. I actually gave it away for nothing... (⩌⤚⩌)